IAN WATKINS PONTYPRIDD ROCK STAR SENTENCED FOR CHILD SEX OFFENCES IN CARDIFF
| Red Rose Database
Pontypridd Rapist
In December 2013, the notorious singer Ian Watkins, originally from Pontypridd, was handed a severe prison sentence of 35 years after admitting to a series of heinous child sex offences. The court heard that Watkins, the frontman of the band Lostprophets, had committed acts that plunged into unprecedented depths of depravity, including the attempted rape of an 11-month-old baby. The judge, Mr. Justice Royce, described Watkins as a “committed and determined paedophile” who had exploited his fame and the trust of his fans to manipulate and abuse vulnerable children.
Watkins’s crimes were revealed during a detailed trial at Cardiff Crown Court, where evidence showed that he had filmed and stored videos of his abuse, some of which were so extreme that they could not be publicly reported. Police investigations uncovered a vast amount of illegal material stored on Watkins’s computers and online, totaling approximately 27 terabytes—an amount five times larger than the entire storage capacity of South Wales Police’s systems. The password protecting his computer was shockingly simple: “Ifuckkids,” which further underscored his brazen attitude towards his crimes.
The investigation also uncovered that Watkins had attempted to cover his tracks by using off-site “cloud” storage services, making it more difficult for authorities to trace his activities. GCHQ experts were called in to crack the encryption and access the data, which included images and videos of children as young as two years old and some involving bestiality. The police found that Watkins had also made and possessed indecent images of children, with some of the most serious being classified as level one, indicating the most severe category of child abuse material.
During the court proceedings, Watkins admitted to multiple charges, including the attempted rape and sexual assault of a child under 13, conspiracy to rape, and possession of extreme pornography involving animals. He also confessed to encouraging a fan to abuse her own child during a webcam chat and to secretly storing videos of child abuse, some of which he had filmed himself. The evidence included text messages where Watkins discussed “teaching” children to take drugs and expressed a desire to “cross the line” with a young girl’s mother, revealing a disturbing pattern of predatory behavior.
Two women who were involved in the abuse alongside Watkins also pleaded guilty. Woman A, who was only 17 at the time she met Watkins, admitted to attempting to rape a baby after initially denying the charges. Her barrister argued that she was a vulnerable, impressionable girl who had been manipulated by Watkins, who was almost twice her age and a famous rock star. Woman B pleaded guilty to conspiracy to rape and other sexual assault charges, acknowledging her role in the abuse.
Following Watkins’s arrest in October 2012, police served gross misconduct notices on seven officers from South Wales Police, Bedfordshire Police, and South Yorkshire Police. The Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) launched investigations into whether Watkins’s celebrity status hindered earlier detection and whether police forces responded appropriately to allegations made against him, some dating back to 2008. The IPCC’s inquiries aim to determine if systemic failures allowed Watkins to continue his abuse for years before being brought to justice.
Watkins’s appeal against his 29-year sentence was filed in January and was scheduled to be heard by a panel of judges at Cardiff Crown Court. His legal team argued that his sentence was excessively harsh, claiming that while his crimes were serious, they did not warrant such a lengthy term. However, the appeal judges, including Lord Justice Pitchford, dismissed these arguments, emphasizing the shocking depravity of Watkins’s offences and the need for a lengthy imprisonment to protect the public. The court reaffirmed that Watkins’s crimes against infants, despite the absence of physical injury, demanded a severe penalty.
Throughout the investigation and trial, Watkins showed no remorse or empathy. Detective Chief Inspector Peter Doyle of South Wales Police described him as potentially the most dangerous sex offender he had encountered, citing his organized and manipulative nature. Doyle expressed concern that Watkins might continue to offend from prison, as he had demonstrated no remorse during police interviews. The police also revealed that Watkins had made a phone call from prison, dismissing the allegations as “mega lolz,” and claimed he was being stalked by a “crazed fan,” further illustrating his detachment from reality.
Watkins is currently serving his sentence at Long Lartin Prison in Worcestershire, a facility known for housing high-profile offenders such as Charles Bronson and Ian Huntley. His case has sparked widespread outrage and concern over the handling of allegations against him, prompting the IPCC to investigate whether earlier intervention could have prevented his continued offending. The case has also raised questions about the influence of celebrity and whether it contributed to delays in justice. As Watkins awaits sentencing, the full extent of his crimes and potential further abuses remain under investigation, with authorities determined to uncover any additional victims and hold him fully accountable for his actions.
Watkins’s crimes were revealed during a detailed trial at Cardiff Crown Court, where evidence showed that he had filmed and stored videos of his abuse, some of which were so extreme that they could not be publicly reported. Police investigations uncovered a vast amount of illegal material stored on Watkins’s computers and online, totaling approximately 27 terabytes—an amount five times larger than the entire storage capacity of South Wales Police’s systems. The password protecting his computer was shockingly simple: “Ifuckkids,” which further underscored his brazen attitude towards his crimes.
The investigation also uncovered that Watkins had attempted to cover his tracks by using off-site “cloud” storage services, making it more difficult for authorities to trace his activities. GCHQ experts were called in to crack the encryption and access the data, which included images and videos of children as young as two years old and some involving bestiality. The police found that Watkins had also made and possessed indecent images of children, with some of the most serious being classified as level one, indicating the most severe category of child abuse material.
During the court proceedings, Watkins admitted to multiple charges, including the attempted rape and sexual assault of a child under 13, conspiracy to rape, and possession of extreme pornography involving animals. He also confessed to encouraging a fan to abuse her own child during a webcam chat and to secretly storing videos of child abuse, some of which he had filmed himself. The evidence included text messages where Watkins discussed “teaching” children to take drugs and expressed a desire to “cross the line” with a young girl’s mother, revealing a disturbing pattern of predatory behavior.
Two women who were involved in the abuse alongside Watkins also pleaded guilty. Woman A, who was only 17 at the time she met Watkins, admitted to attempting to rape a baby after initially denying the charges. Her barrister argued that she was a vulnerable, impressionable girl who had been manipulated by Watkins, who was almost twice her age and a famous rock star. Woman B pleaded guilty to conspiracy to rape and other sexual assault charges, acknowledging her role in the abuse.
Following Watkins’s arrest in October 2012, police served gross misconduct notices on seven officers from South Wales Police, Bedfordshire Police, and South Yorkshire Police. The Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) launched investigations into whether Watkins’s celebrity status hindered earlier detection and whether police forces responded appropriately to allegations made against him, some dating back to 2008. The IPCC’s inquiries aim to determine if systemic failures allowed Watkins to continue his abuse for years before being brought to justice.
Watkins’s appeal against his 29-year sentence was filed in January and was scheduled to be heard by a panel of judges at Cardiff Crown Court. His legal team argued that his sentence was excessively harsh, claiming that while his crimes were serious, they did not warrant such a lengthy term. However, the appeal judges, including Lord Justice Pitchford, dismissed these arguments, emphasizing the shocking depravity of Watkins’s offences and the need for a lengthy imprisonment to protect the public. The court reaffirmed that Watkins’s crimes against infants, despite the absence of physical injury, demanded a severe penalty.
Throughout the investigation and trial, Watkins showed no remorse or empathy. Detective Chief Inspector Peter Doyle of South Wales Police described him as potentially the most dangerous sex offender he had encountered, citing his organized and manipulative nature. Doyle expressed concern that Watkins might continue to offend from prison, as he had demonstrated no remorse during police interviews. The police also revealed that Watkins had made a phone call from prison, dismissing the allegations as “mega lolz,” and claimed he was being stalked by a “crazed fan,” further illustrating his detachment from reality.
Watkins is currently serving his sentence at Long Lartin Prison in Worcestershire, a facility known for housing high-profile offenders such as Charles Bronson and Ian Huntley. His case has sparked widespread outrage and concern over the handling of allegations against him, prompting the IPCC to investigate whether earlier intervention could have prevented his continued offending. The case has also raised questions about the influence of celebrity and whether it contributed to delays in justice. As Watkins awaits sentencing, the full extent of his crimes and potential further abuses remain under investigation, with authorities determined to uncover any additional victims and hold him fully accountable for his actions.